To the best of our knowledge, details of the above events are correct but may be subject to alteration.

Monday, March 30, 2015

Duende @ The Bridge Hotel. March 29

Steve Glendinning (guitar) & Mark Williams
(guitar)

(Review
by Russell/Photo courtesy of Ken Drew).

As has become
the norm, the on-first-name-terms audience turned out to support Splinter @ the
Bridge. At short notice Mark Williams helped out friend and fellow guitarist
Steve Glendinning when a proposed quartet gig fell through. The prospect of two
fine guitarists playing a few tunes together didn't deter the faithful.

Steve
Glendinning took the lead on the opening number Stella by Starlight. SG can play! Mark Williams took up the
challenge and typical of the self-effacing Irishman, laid down an equally
impressive solo. MW examined My Favourite
Things and SG offered a second opinion on the standard. SG suggested a
ballad – Bill Evans’ Time Remembered.
MW is a man of few words, he nodded agreement and they played most sensitively.
The ‘gig’ was, in essence, more ‘recital’, ‘jazz guitar recital’ at that. My Funny Valentine heard SG, then MW,
the bass strings accompaniment of both men a delight. Pat Metheny’s Hermitage (a Metheny tune is all but
compulsory!) closed a fine first set.

Second set. A
bossa, a waltz. A disinterested punter
or two wandered down to the bar, in so doing distracting those keen to listen.
Worse, two tanked-up second-set freeloaders did their best/worst to disturb the
collective concentration – what is it with these people? Yes, the music…Charlie
Haden’s Our Spanish Love Song just
about topped the lot. Just about… All the
Things You Are concluded the evening and stole the show. Superb playing from
two excellent guitarists – Messrs Glendinning and Williams. Next Sunday (Easter
Sunday), April 5 Tom Harrison (alto) makes a welcome return visit with his
quartet.

Submissions for review

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Similarly, CDs received by post will only be considered if accompanied by sufficient background material.

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Lance

About this blog - contact details.

Bebop Spoken Here -- Here, being the north-east of England -- centred in the blues heartland of Newcastle and reaching down to the Tees Delta and looking upwards to the Land of the Kilt.Not a very original title, I know; not even an accurate one as my taste, whilst centred around the music of Bird and Diz, extends in many directions and I listen to everything from King Oliver to Chick Corea and beyond. Not forgetting the Great American Songbook the contents of which has provided the inspiration for much great jazz and quality popular singing for round about a century.The idea of this blog is for you to share your thoughts and pass on your comments on discs, gigs, jazz - music in general. If you've been to a gig/concert or heard a CD that knocked you sideways please share your views with us. Tell us about your favourites, your memories, your dislikes.Lance (Who wishes it to be known that he is not responsible for postings other than his own and that he's not always responsible for them.)